53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting

From 27 to 29 August, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting in Tonga. He was joined by Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy.

Australia is a proud founding member of the PIF. The forum brings together Leaders from 18 Pacific countries and territories annually to discuss shared challenges and regional solutions, including shaping a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region.

During the meeting, Leaders discussed regional priorities including climate change, oceans, regional security, health and education.

The communique of the 53rd Pacific Islands Leaders Forum is available online(link is external).

Prime Minister Albanese joined with other Pacific leaders to endorse the Pacific Policing Initiative, a major regional initiative to strengthen collective peace and security throughout the Pacific.

Australia and Tuvalu also held an event to announce the entry into force of the historic Falepili Union Treaty. The Treaty covers three main areas of cooperation between the two countries:

• climate cooperation,
• human mobility with dignity, and
• shared security.

The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with leaders from Tonga, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia.

In the discussion with his Tongan counterpart, Prime Minister the Hon Hu'akavameiliku, Prime Minister Albanese discussed the importance of Australian support for Tonga's priorities of economic recovery and infrastructure, particularly following the devastating 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption and tsunami.

Australia and New Zealand are working together with the Tongan Government to support sustainable and climate resilient infrastructure. This includes the construction of Tonga's new Parliament House and the delivery of a second international undersea telecommunications cable.